Indianapolis' northside often proves to be a dominant force in boys soccer, and this year looks to be the same. But with several top teams in the same sectional, many of the best teams in the polls will be sent home early. And while perennial contenders might continue to dominate the scene during the regular season, a surprise team might emerge during the tournament.

North Central counting on depth in quest for regional three-peat

The Panthers were stunned last season as Castle celebrated a semistate title after scoring with eight seconds left. And while the result of that game can’t be pinned entirely on a lack of energy, consider this: The Panthers came into that game averaging nearly three goals per game. In their season-ending loss, they scored one.

It was their sixth game of the tournament, four of which were decided by one goal. It’s a mental and physical drain that takes a toll. Longtime Panthers coach Jerry Little is hoping to take steps during the regular season to keep his team fresh for October.

“We’re going to have to play a lot of kids, because trying to get out of that sectional and be healthy is a real challenge, especially if you go to regionals,” Little said. “We feel confident we have some good depth, but we are playing an extremely difficult schedule to try to get us prepared.”

Kirezi Freddy, who scored 17 goals, is the team’s leading returner. The team will also be looking for a new goalkeeper to step up. While roles are still in flux, Little is confident the team will be ready when it matters.

“We’re still trying to figure out where to put everybody and exactly what formation to play, but I think when we get to the state tournament we should be pretty good,” he said.

This year’s group will be heavy with experience, as it includes nine seniors and 11 juniors. Just two players on the varsity roster are sophomores.

But getting out of the sectional is no sure bet. While North Central might be the team with a target on its back, sectional foe Zionsville finished last season ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll while Guerin Catholic finished No. 9.

“I expect it to be a bit more wide open this year because there are so many good teams,” Little said. “A lot of teams lost a lot of seniors last year, but they have good underclassmen.”

After quick exit last year, Eagles looking for revenge

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After being ranked No. 1 last season, what does Zionsville have in store for an encore in 2018.(Photo: Jenna Watson/IndyStar)

Despite falling to Guerin Catholic in their Class 3A sectional opener last season, the Eagles are confident they will be a force to be reckoned with again this fall. While no player on last year’s team scored more than seven goals, seven players had at least four goals each. Coach Rob Jordan expects that same balance to continue.

“They’re not going to be able to key on one person," he said. "Even some of our backs are pretty prolific scorers if given the opportunity.”

While he says the team’s offensive attack is where there will be a “huge improvement,” he also anticipates improvement in the back as well.

“I think we’re going to be stronger in the back,” he said. “I think we’re going to have a little better ball control through the back and through the midfield.”

But if last season is any indication, anything can happen — especially in a sectional that finished last season with four teams ranked in the top 20.

“There’s so much talent across all these schools,” Jordan said. “I think it’s going to be very similar to last year, and I think you’re going to see even stronger than what you saw last year.”

Ben Davis looking to continue last season’s success

Last season marked one of the most successful seasons in recent Ben Davis program history, as the team won its first Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference title and its first sectional title since 2009. And while the program has a new head coach in Jimmy Angelov, he’s a familiar face to many of the players — he was the coach in the program’s junior high feeder system for the past nine years.

“I have the relationships already built with a majority of the students,” he said. “In summer training, we had quite a few numbers come out. I feel like the relationship building piece is huge and that these players are going to step up.”

Last year’s team graduated 11 seniors, including five of its six leading scorers. But senior Issac Torres returns having scored a team-high 13 goals to go along with six assists, while Angelov expects big things from Jalen Bolen and Victor Villagomez.

“With the talent we have on this team, I don’t think they’ll disappoint,” Angelov said.

Covenant Christian looking to ‘take care of unfinished business’

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Covenant Christian High School senior Mitchell Price (11) battles with Fort Wayne Canterbury High School senior Ben Kunce (10) during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School senior Nate Keehner (20) and Fort Wayne Canterbury High School junior Justin Baeten (3) battles for the ball during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School junior Braden Havics (2) takes a shot on goal during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School junior Braden Havics (2) celebrates scoring during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School junior Braden Havics (2) celebrates scoring during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School junior Braden Havics (2) celebrates scoring during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School junior Braden Havics (2) celebrates scoring during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School starting players gather on the field before play begins in for the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School junior Jacob Susud (0) clears the ball out of the goal during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School sophomore Will Trapp (17) gains control of the ball as he battles with Fort Wayne Canterbury High School junior Justin Baeten (3) during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School junior Jacob Susud (0) clears the ball away to a teammate during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School senior Clayton Lewis (12) battles with Fort Wayne Canterbury High School senior Mick Clark (2) during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School junior Jacob Susud (0) grimaces as he attempts to stop the shot of Fort Wayne Canterbury High School senior Ben Kunce (10) that was off the goal during the first half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne won 2-1. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School players stretch on the field during a break in the second half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne won 2-1. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School sophomore Will Trapp (17) tries to get the ball into the goal off a corner kick during the second half of the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne won 2-1. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School players react after their loss in the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne won 2-1. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School senior Nate Keehner (20), along with his teammates, react to losing the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne won 2-1. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

Covenant Christian High School senior Austin Wagner (6) is announces as the mental attitude award winner the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne won 2-1. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

The Covenant Christian High School team pose for a team photo after finishing as runners-up in the IHSAA Boys' Soccer Class A state final game, Friday, October 27, 2017, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis. Fort Wayne won 2-1. Doug McSchooler/for IndyStar

The Warriors return 13 seniors to a team that made a Class A state finals appearance last year, and coach David Pfeifer says the group expects nothing less this fall.

“Most of these guys have the expectation that we’re going to go back and take care of unfinished business,” Pfeifer said. “A lot of these guys have a chip on their shoulder where they’re holding themselves to a high standard to repeat what they did last year.”

Senior Maclain Hastings scored 18 goals last year while fellow seniors Braden Havics (12) and Gabe Byrd (10) also found the back of the net consistently. Senior goalkeeper Jacob Susud had 110 saves last season.

Hamilton Southeastern, Greenfield-Central looking to repeat success

HSE and Greenfield-Central also made appearances in the regional finals last season. The Royals roster features 10 seniors while Greenfield-Central has three. The Cougars return two players who scored double-digit goals last season in Zack Bell (14) and Tyler Murphy (11).